“And?” I countered, gliding my gaze to the ceiling to avoid seeing any more of Alden’s naked form.
“It reminded me of this time I crossed paths with these beings that attacked what they discerned to be a threat. They would feast on them until their prey turned to nothing more than a dried-up scrap of skin, which was carried by the breeze.”
“Which is exactly what Alden left behind of his feeder before I called you here,” I muttered, scrubbing my hands over my face.
“So, if Alden has fae traits mixed with something else, then maybe the worlds are vying for him to belong to them and he’s part of both? It could be that or Faery is confused and has made him both fae, and whatever the hell the original creatures were?”
I dipped my glare, examining the way Alden’s eyes were rounded and loaded with emotion. He looked unsettled, and at the same time, he looked as if he were appreciating the power struggle they trapped him in. When the goddess on his cheeks rose, Alden’s serrated teeth became exposed, and I gasped. Shifting my focus to his fingers, I discovered them elongated and claw-like in shape. He adjusted them on Banba’s legs, curling them around her thighs to pound deeper into her body. She had deep gashes on her hips, blood running from them in unchecked rivulets. His focus locked onto Banba’s face, and he snarled in a strange tone that echoed through the room, rebounding against the glass and causing the runes to glow an electric-blue.
“He’s hurting them,” I pointed out, looking at her while she snorted loudly.
“They know. My sisters have lived a long time, and if they didn’t want to push him, they wouldn’t. They’re learning and testing what he can do. You mentioned Zahruk’s changing, as well?” My mouth opened and immediately clamped shut as I nodded in confirmation. “Considering he’s already fae, he may not be this savage.”
I fidgeted quietly, stifling the worry of the latest rumors. When I turned to Erie, her lips were parted and she snorted before shaking her vibrant-red mass of curls.
“He’s not started leaving behind husks, if that is what you’re asking. Zahruk barely has returned since the insatiable hunger began, but Ryder thinks Zahruk merely craves distance because he’s worried about what the changes will mean. That tells me he’s in control of his mind—at least, for now, anyway.”
Erie chuckled, but it held no humor in the musical notes, only dire sadness for the grimness of the situation. “And Zahruk was exposed with Lena? Where did you say he’d touched it, exactly?”
“In Spokane, near Nightshade, to be exact,” I confirmed, rubbing the chill from my arms. “Adrian and Vlad estimate that several hundred people have already been affected, but like I said, Alden is the one who has survived. That number doesn’t include the otherworld beings they can’t track, though, so the number is likely far greater. Though, Lucian has reported that something has driven the demons to abandon Spokane recently as well. I am assuming it’s because of the oily substance.”
“I guess that’s one way to make them creepy fucks leave town,” she snickered, flicking her attention to her sisters, who’d switched spots. “If it’s spreading out there, there is no telling where else it’s popping up or where it will stop.”
“I don’t even want to consider those questions, let alone figure out the answers to them. I’m going to need something a lot harder than tea tonight. Care to join me?”
“I wish I could.”
“No, that’s okay, but before you go, could you do something for me? It’s not like you haven’t already done enough, but there’s something that has been worrying me, and I’d like to be prepared in case it happens.”
Her gaze tightened. “You know I’ll aid you where I can, Synthia. I don’t have many people I consider friends, but you’re one of them. You want additional remodeling done? Or do you need me to reinforce some crap around here and drive away the boogeyman?” she inquired, smirking as we left down the passageway, ignoring the shrieks that had started once more.
Chapter Three
Time moved by in stifling silence, and the restlessness grew heavier within the kingdom. Erie had departed, but she’d reassured me that Alden would be okay, and that her sisters would return to continue feeding his insatiable appetite. It saved me from somehow figuring out how to feed him, for a while at least. I’d devoted the last couple of days to hearing cases from incoming emissaries and quarrels over tithes that were expected before the winter solstice.
A blizzard deposited more of the frosty, icy snow onto the provinces, turning Faery into a winter wonderland. Children didn’t resent it at all, and had created forts and were holding daily snowball tournaments. But other occupants within the palace prattled on about how it wasn’t typical to see such a considerable amount of snow. The way they droned on about it made it seem as if they suspected I could simply put a kibosh to the storm and naturally switch it off.
Icelyn had attempted to do just that, but it hadn’t been effective. Ciara and Blane had returned from the Kingdom of Dragons and reported having similar issues with the weather. Several of the other dragons had arrived with them, each restless and irritated by the intense chill that hovered in the air.
In the throne chamber, we nestled the babes by the magnificent fireplace Ristan had created, which stretched down the entire wall. Phoenix was babbling up a storm, even though it was largely noises and cooing. I adjusted her on my lap, shifting to regard Fury, who held several carved wooden toys up for Finn and Fiona to examine. My heart clenched with the overpowering emotions that shot through me.
Ristan joined the room, scanned it thoroughly, and then set Orion down beside the other children. “Do not bite them or hit anyone with your tail, Orion. Be good for me,” he chided.
Orion had his mother’s fiery hair and bright azure eyes that betrayed his intelligence. His horns, wings, and tail, which made him even cuter, if that were conceivable, were all from his father. After a second, Ristan frowned at his son and then slowly moved toward where I rested with my feet up on a stool.
“You look exhausted, Flower.”
“I am, but there’s a bunch to finish before the solstice in a couple of days. It isn’t easy with the weather delaying the supplies. At least, that’s the excuse the lesser fae are providing for why the tithes are late. Two kingdoms haven’t replied to my summons, and there’s a babe assaulting me from within who thinks sleep isn’t fundamental,” I griped, grinning as Phoenix rested her head against my abdomen while sitting on my lap.
The little urchin was the spitting image of her mother. Her hair was onyx-colored, with delicate tones of midnight-blue highlights. She had wide lavender irises that were encircled by a startling aqua-blue. It was likely the only thing she’d received from Blane. Fury had turned out to be Blane’s duplicate, with matching ocean colored depths and wispy, ink-darkened hair that curled up at the ends. Finn and Fiona were a blend of their parents, but their glacial-hued hair had darkened, and did so often, which was due to the weather. Finn was like his father in nature, while Fiona was a sassy little thing.
Phoenix moved, clambering down to scamper over to where the others played, just as the door opened, revealing one of the newer guards. The man stepped into the throne chamber, but Sinjinn, Blane, and Ristan cut him off from moving closer, pushing him back to the threshold of the room.